Device for containing and illuminating transparencies



Dec. 30, 1952 .B. LOMBARD 2,623,314 DEVICE FOR CONTAINING AND `ILLUMINATING TRANSPARENCIES Filed Aug. l0, 1948 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES FATT QFFICE` DEVICE FOR CONTAINING AND ILLUMINAT- ING TRAN SPAREN CIES Bernard Lombard, Lakewood, Ohio Application August 10, 1948, Serial No. 43,442

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a device for illuminating transparencies inserted in the usual photograph frame.

It is an object of my invention to provide a lamp containing and reflecting enclosure which can be associated with the usual photograph frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide an enclosure for the rear of said frame within which lighting means may be contained and properly directed through the rear of transparencies mounted in such frame so as to illuminate evenly and distinctly said transparencies. l

Another object of my invention is to provide such light containing enclosure means with improved latching means whereby the enclosure may be securely mounted upon said frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved enclosure element for such photograph frame constructed in such an improved manner that the frame may be seated on a table, mantle, shelf or other supporting device on any of its sides.

A further object of my invention is to provide the improved device of my invention in an economical manner, being composed of but few parts and which can be simply and efficiently assembled with the frame without requiring any special construction or alternation of a standard photograph frame.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become more readily apparent from the following description when considered in con.- nection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front lplan view of the photograph frame adapted to be used with the light-containing enclosure of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front plan view of the enclosure unit of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a side plan view of the assembled frame and the enclosure unit, dotted lines illustrating the forward projection of the frame in attaching the enclosure unit to the frame;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken from the line 4,-4 of Fig. 1 through the assembled unit;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a midpoint in the assembling of the enclosure unit with the frame.

Fig. 6 is a View taken from the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like reference characters are used to designate like parts, at I0 I show the usual photograph frame, the frame shown being generally rectangular in form. Said frame is composed of three generally U-shaped, channel members I3 and an L-shaped end I2, the width of the L.- shaped bottom member I2 being preferably approximately one-half of the width of the sides I 3a of the channel members, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. In the preferred embodiment shown, the width of the forwardly disposed faces I4 of the channel members are substantially equal to the width of the sides Isa and the width of the rear faces I5 of the channel members I3 are substan tially equal to the width of the Lshaped bottom member I2 thereof.

A light containing enclosure member I 6 having tapered sides as indicated at I'I, a rectangular rear face I3 and an enlarged forward opening I9 is shown in Figs. 2 and 5, inclusive. Said enclosure member is preferably formed of opaque or non-transparent material and is preferably formed or provided with light reflecting inner surfaces I 'l and I3. The enclosure member I6, as best shown in Fig. 2, has three laterally extending side flanges 20, 2lia and 29h and a forwardly extending flange 2 I, opposite ends 22 of the flange ZI extending over the ends 20 of the side flanges Ztl and 2th. The Width of the flanges 2E), 20a and 28h of the enclosure element IG are substantially each equal to the width of the rear faces'l of the channel members yand the width of the forwardly extending ange 2i is substantially equal to the width of the photograph frame bottom portion I2. 'Ihe width of the said flange 2 I is further substantially equal to the distance indicated at m-x for reasons later to be described herein. The rear face I8 of the enclosure element I6 is preferably apertured centrally as indicated at y to permit the insertion of socket means 25 within the enclosure wherefore a lamp 25 may be inserted therein.

The lamp 2E is provided with current from any convenient source by means of the wire 27. Switch means may further be provided in any manner known to the art to turn on or disconnect the light.

The lamp 26 it will be noted is centrally mounted within the enclosure element and is rearwardly disposed therein and is preferably of such wattage and is so reflected by means of the tapered walls I1 of the enclosure member that light is evenly distributed through the opal glass and through the transparency so as to properly illuminate all of the above portions of the transparency.

It will be understood that small apertures such land the flanges 2e and iib as-indicated at 38, may be provided in one or more of the tapered sides I for the purpose of ventilation but this is not essential in the device of my invention since the lamp is of such low wattage that this additional protection of the picture or transparency is scarcely necessary.

The open side of the lamp containing enclosure member i6 is adapted to be closed by the frame ID in which are mounted a clear glass 3d, a transparency 3l and an opal glass 32. These sheets of glass and the transparency inserted therebetween are adapted to be placed into and enter the frame through the space provided at -x and are inserted within the channel members of the frame, said sheets being of slightly less length and width than the frame within which they are adapted to be held.

To secure the lamp containing enclosure memloer to the frame, the flange 26a of the enclosure is inserted within the space indicated at -zc at either side of the enclosure member are moved upwardly within the U-shaped, aligned, channel-shaped, lateral grooves l of the frame until the upper side vvflanges 2d `of the enclosure member are completely enclosed within the U -shaped channel members :of the frame. The flange 2i is then dropped into position and interposed between the base of the L-shaped bottom of the frame and the sheets of glass and their enclosed transparency. Detent means 35 are provided by providing a pair of arcuate spring strips 35 integrally in fthe upper side fianges 2d of the enclosure member wherefore the enclosure member will be tightly'retained within the frame by means of its side flanges and associated detent means 35. This space provided immediately beneath the frame also acts as a Ventilating means.

It will be understood that when the encosure member is tightly secured to the frame as described hereinbefore, that the photograph frame may be placed on any of its sides, top or bottom, and that any of the four tapered sides of the enclosure member will be adapt-ed to rest upon a Vtable top, mantle or other flat surface upon which theV portrait or picture may be placed. One of the sides of the rearrnost face as shown at 35 of the enclosure member and the foremost portion :of one side of the frame such as indicated at s? will unite in supporting the enclosure member and the frame upon the dat surface on which the same are placed.

Itis tobe understood that numerous and eX- tensive departuresma'y be made from the'embodiment herein illustrated and-described, as for instance, Adifferences in dimensions, shape of framepetc., without departing from the spirit of `myinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new' and useful and desire to cover by United States Letters Patent is;

1. 'A device for containing transparencies comprising an enclosure member having four tapered sides, a rear apertured face and an open forward face, aphotograph frame duadrilateral in form,

,4 transparencies mounted within said frame, said frame having three channelled sides substantially U-shaped in cross section and having one side substantially L-shaped in cross section, three of the tapered sides of said enclosure means having laterally extending peripheral ange portions and said other tapered side of said enclosure member having a depending flange portion, said peripheral flanges of said enclosure member being adapted to be slid into nested engagement with the channelled sides of said frame and the other tapered side of said enclosure member having a depending flange portion being adapted to be dropped into nested engagement with said L-shaped side of said frame, spring detent means integral with certain of said tapered sides adapted to engage certainof said channelled sides of the frame, whereby the enclosure member may be held in secure latched engagement with said frame.

2. A device for containing and illuminating transparencies comprising an enclosure member having four isoceles trapezoidal sides, one'apertured rectangular face, said sides and said face forming an open box-like container having light reflecting inner surfaces, three of said trapezoidal sides being provided with an outwardly extending ange .portion at its outer edge disposed substantially at Vright angles to said forward edge of each said side face portions, each of said flanges having a portion thereof depressed from the remainder of said fiange portions, the forward edge of the remaining fourth trapezoidal side portion extending forwardly .of said other sides and said side flanges,lighting means projected through said apertured rear face portion of the enclosure membei' and mounted in spaced relation from the forward edge portions of each of said sides, a` rectangular frame having three substantially U- shaped channeiled sides and one grooved open side, a transparency loosely seated within the channelled .portions of the frame, the flanges of said enclosure member sides being receivedwithin said channelled portions over thetransparency, the forward edge of said fourth side of the enclosure member being dropped into the groove of said open side of the frame to maintain the enclosure, frame members, and transparency in secure engagement, and the depressed portions of said flanges acting as additive locking means to rigidly maintain the transparency in its mounted position.

BERNARD LOMBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in -the le of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,199,378 Harvey Sept. 26, 1916 1,759,544 Croes May 20, 1930 1,882,236 Stockman Oct. 11, 1932 1,911,962 Morrison s 'May 30,1933 2,145,296 Draper et al Jan. 31, 1939 2,218,828 Ne Page Oct.-22, 1940 2,269,278 Mackintosh et a1 Jari.v 6, 1942 

